CBOE Updates
CFE INTRODUCES TRADING IN CBOE MINI-VIX FUTURES
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Mar 31, 2009 - 4:18:33 PM

CFE INTRODUCES TRADING IN CBOE MINI-VIX FUTURES

The CBOE Futures Exchange, LLC (CFE) announced that it plans to launch trading in CBOE mini-VIX futures, a new contract which will be one-tenth the size of CFE's standard CBOE VIX futures contract.The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), based on real-time S&P 500 Index (SPX) options listed on Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE ), reflects investors' consensus view of future expected market volatility of the S&P 500 Index.

They expect that the mini-VIX futures contract will attract the attention of sophisticated investors and institutions who are looking for a smaller-scale play on implied volatility that's independent of the direction and level of stock prices, or a way to hedge equity returns, diversify portfolios, and spread implied against realized volatility.   As seen over the last year, the VIX has experienced some dramatic spikes, and a smaller VIX futures contract with proportionately lower margins may be more manageable for a wider variety of users.

"We look forward to participating in CFE's new mini-VIX futures, as we see the smaller contract as an attractive trading vehicle for the individual investor," said David Graff, Senior Trader at Wolverine Trading, one of the firms that will be making markets when trading begins. "Many of today's very successful mini-contracts have started out as larger contracts and have become just as successful as their larger counterparts."

"An additional benefit," Graff said, "is that VIX options traders now can hedge with a like-sized futures contract, so we expect these traders to be natural participants."

The new cash-settled CBOE mini-VIX futures contract (ticker symbol VM) initially will list March, April and May serial futures months, which coincide with CBOE's S&P 500 nearby options months. The new, smaller contract features a $100 multiplier versus $1,000 for the larger VIX futures contract, with a minimum price movement (tick) of $5 per contract.

As with other futures offerings, CFE will have a number of liquidity providers who will support two-sided markets.

CBOE Futures Exchange currently offers futures on six different contracts, including: the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), CBOE DJIA Volatility Index (VXD), CBOE Russell 2000 Volatility Index (RVX) and CBOE S&P 500 3-Month and 12-Month Variance (VT and VA, respectively).

CBOE MINI-VIX FUTURES (VM) PRODUCT SPECIFICATION OVERVIEW

Contract Size: VIX times $100

Pricing

 Like the cash index, pricing is stated in decimals

Minimum Price Intervals

 0.05 of one CBOE Volatility Index point = $5.00/contract

Dollar Value/Tick: $5.00/contract

Contract Months: Initially up to three near-term serial months

Trading Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Chicago time

Platform – CBOE direct

Termination of Trading

 Day before the Final Settlement Date (see holiday treatment in full specifications)

Final Settlement Price

 30 days prior to expiration of nearby SPX options with at least eight days left to expiration - generally the Wednesday that is 30 days prior to the third Friday of the calendar month immediately following the month in which the mini-VIX contract expires (see holiday treatment in full specifications)

Delivery: Cash settled

Position Limits: 5,000 contracts

Minimum Reportable Level: 250 contracts